Graduate Certificates

Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education (GCNE)

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education is designed to provide education in teaching and curriculum for registered nurses. To earn the GCNE, students with at least a bachelor’s degree take four courses from the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing.

The GCNE is designed for four student populations:

First, students in our Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and PhD programs may elect to complete the GCNE in addition to the requirements of their programs.

A second overlapping group is teaching assistants who may want to enhance their teaching skills.

A third group of potential students is faculty who teach nursing in programs across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who have advanced degrees but no formal education in teaching strategies.

Finally, a fourth group of potential students is nurses who work as educators in clinical settings. Many of these nurses have bachelor’s degrees and lack training in educational strategies.

Individuals who complete the GCNE program and have a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing qualify to take the National League of Nursing (NLN) Certification for Nurse Educators.

Program Goals

• Develop a grounding in pedagogical theories
• Evaluate nursing curriculum using accreditation guidelines
• Consider quality measures in nursing education in developing and evaluating nursing curriculum
• Use creative teaching methods to enhance pedagogy
• Reflect on own teaching style as a means of incorporating new teaching strategies
• Prepare nurses for education roles in colleges, universities, and clinical settings

The GCNE consists of a flexible four-course (12-credit) program of study focused on teaching curricular knowledge and pedagogical skills needed to teach nursing. In order to make these courses available, they will be offered in asynchronous online classes and a final practicum in staff development and education, which may be in a clinical setting, face-to-face class, online class, clinical lab, or in a health care setting. School of Education electives may be online, face-to-face, or blended classes.

The GCNE consists of four total coreses, with three core nursing courses and a final teaching practicum. In the practicum, students will apply their nursing and pedagogical skills to working with nursing students in the classroom, online, and in clinical settings or in health care facilities in education and staff development.

Students in the PhD or the DNP programs may choose to add on this concentration. Students interested in this adding this optio should speak to their program advisor and complete the Track Change Request Form. 

Required courses

N560 Simulation for Healthcare Education

Critique theories associated with simulation, communication, and evaluation of student outcomes. Reviews care of simulation equipment and software and how to create and facilitate simulations culminating with a developed simulation.

N641 Curriculum Development and Evaluation Process in Nursing

Focuses on developing the knowledge and skills of nurse educators in applying principles of curriculum development, evaluation, and related processes in nursing education.

N642 Teaching in Nursing

Focuses on the dynamic, creative process of teaching and learning clinical nursing in preparation for competent, reflective nursing practice. Philosophies, theories, methodologies, and trends relevant to nursing education are included.

N698T Teaching Practicum in Nursing (Pre-requisites: N642 and N641)

This course provides the framework, mentorship, and coaching for graduate students to develop skills in teaching in the classroom, in clinical settings, and in an online environment.

Clinical and Teaching Practicum Information 

N698T is a practicum course. Three credits are allocated to this course for supervised teaching (which translates into 168 contact hours). This course consists of practicum experiences that include precepted education of nursing students in the classroom, online, clinical, and/or simulation/lab environment. There is also a direct care component that consists of approximately 35 hours of client education in the direct care patient environment. Students will participate in about twelve hours of supervised teaching activities in a selected teaching/learning situation each week plus direct care education experience over the course of the semester in addition to online discussion of cases and progress. Some of this time will be spent in preparation for the teaching/learning activities, some will be spent observing faculty teaching, and some will be spent teaching. Students will document their practicum hours and activities in Typhon (See above).

Students will spend 6 or more weeks in one of the following teaching/learning environments:

Nursing Student Education Setting

• classroom (live and/or simulation)
• clinical (live and/or videoconferencing)
• simulation/skills lab
• online (synchronous and/or asynchronous)

Direct Care Learning Environment: Patient or Patient Population Setting

• health care facility
• community health setting
• community health outreach

Time in the learning environment may vary somewhat, but, generally, classroom time also equates to preparation time. Students should prepare for the class whether actively teaching or observing by making sure they review the material prior to class and make notes about important points. For every hour in the learning environment, there are three hours of preparation. For example, a three-credit course equals three hours of class time plus nine hours of prep time, for a total of 12 hours per week.

Students will be assisted in identifying potential preceptors and sites for completing teaching practicum hours. The preceptor must have at least a master’s degree in nursing and at least two years of experience. The preceptor must agree to work with the student to complete all of the required hours for the practicum and submit a mid-term and final evaluation to the course faculty The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing requires a signed preceptor/faculty/student agreement and the preceptor’s résumé/CV and contact information before contact hours can begin. Students who have clinical practicums will need to upload required health and other records into Castle Branch. The course faculty will maintain regular contact with the preceptor and solicit feedback in order to evaluate the student’s attainment of course objectives. The course faculty will assign the final grade for the course.

Registration

• Matriculated students do not need to fill out a non-degree application, but they do need to complete an application for the Certificate in Nursing Education.
• Non-matriculated students will need to complete a non-degree application (Graduate School) in addition to the application for the Certificate in Nursing Education. Their student file will be housed at EMCON.

While the College will monitor students’ progress, students are responsible for keeping track of their completion of required coursework. Students may submit a Graduate Certificate Eligibility Form at any time during their graduate career.

For non-degree students, the College will monitor progress and inform the Graduate School when students have completed the sequence of courses. Non-matriculated students will be acknowledged in the Commencement Program under “Certificate Programs.”

Nursing Education Certificate Program Office:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
lyovina [at] umass [dot] edu (Lynn Yovina), Program Assistant

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Master’s Certificate

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Master's  Certificate prepares nurses to obtain psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification. This accelerated online program is designed for nurses who have completed a master's degree and who wish to expand their scope of practice to include the care of individuals, families, and groups with psychiatric and mental health needs. Preference is given to nurses with experience in psychiatric mental health nursing.

This certificate will prepare students to:

• Address the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual elements of mental health care
• Apply for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification examination
• Work in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings

Objectives of the PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate

1. Provide the instructional foundation for students to obtain professional certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
2. Develop appropriate clinical inferences based on a solid background in the sciences for the prevention of illness and the promotion of physical and mental health.
3. Effectively evaluate the efficacy of drug therapies on the physical and mental health of patients and consider non-drug integrative therapies to promote health.
4. Assess, diagnose and treat common psychiatric and mental health disorders across the lifespan.
5. Engage in inter- and intra-disciplinary collaboration and consultation in care of individuals, groups, and families.
6. Synthesize and translate evidence-based practices from nursing and other disciplines to manage complex psychiatric and mental health conditions.
7. Analyze social problems, health care policies and practices which affect the delivery of psychiatric mental health care.

Required courses

Applicants to the certificate program will have a full review of prior coursework to determine credits and hours needed to qualify for the ANCC board certification examination and fulfill EMCON requirements. Individual plans of study will reflect students’ completed coursework in the College’s PMHNP DNP program. Students must follow the same procedure for clinical placements as the DNP students. See DNP-PHNP course descriptions. 

This program requires that the 3P’s (Patho, Pharm, Physical Assessment) be completed in the last 10 years.  Applicants will need to provide official transcripts and possibly course descriptions indicating this.  If you need to complete them again, you can do so with us as part of your program.

A GAP Analysis will be completed by the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing as part of the admission process and will document what you need for certification.

The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing does not provide clinical placements for you; however, we do have support in place should you need assistance. It is highly recommended that you have clinical placements sought out before applying to the program. 

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Courses

Applicants who hold master’s degrees and are NOT practicing NP’s will be reviewed and in addition to the above course requirements will need to take:

N725 Leadership in Public Health Systems – 3 cr.

N670 Family Systems and Interventions – 3 cr.

N703 Pharmacotherapy Management – 3 cr

N898D Final Residency – 2 cr.

Completion of Certificate:

Once all course work is completed (or you are in your final semester) students will be expected to apply for the Certificate with the Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst and follow the deadline provided to receive the Certificate.  Deadlines are April 1st to receive a May Certificate, and December 15th for a February Certificate.  The Certificate application form can be found at the Graduate School’s website at:

https://www.umass.edu/graduate/form/certificate-eligibility-form

Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program Office:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
Karen Ayotte, Program Specialist
kayotte [at] umass [dot] edu (kayotte[at]umass[dot]edu)

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Master of Science Program

The Master of Science program at UMass Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing is a distance-accessible program offered through predominantly asynchronous delivery methods. All coursework is offered through University Without Walls (UWW))/Online Education: www.umass.edu/uww/.

I. Nursing Studies Concentration (MSNS): 30 credits

Objectives of the Master of Nursing Science Degree

1. Apply advanced knowledge and core competencies to the development and evaluation nursing care for diverse individuals or populations.
2. Integrate and understand how nursing theory impacts nursing practice and the delivery of healthcare.
3. Interpret and critically analyze research and its application to nursing practice and evidence-based practice.

Course Requirements

The Nursing Studies Concentration in the master’s program consists of 30 credits, including the seven core courses in our Master of Science curriculum listed below:

MSNS Course Descriptions

N603: Theoretical Components of Nursing Practice - 3 credits
Students will examine and evaluate the components and functions of theory by exploring the role of different types of theory in a practice discipline.

N604: Introduction to Statistics for Health Research-3 credits
This course focuses on introductory statistical techniques frequently used in health sciences research, use of analytic software and database creation and management.

N615: Advanced Pathophysiology-3 credits
Concepts and theories related to disorders of physiological processes which result in health alterations in the child and the adult. Alterations in normal body functions leading to disease and discomfort of the individual presented within an organizing framework. Clinical inferences from concepts and theories of pathophysiology and pharmacology presented in relation to clinical nursing practice in primary care.

N614: Advanced Health Assessment-3 credits
Classroom and laboratory practice and case-based approaches to health assessment and differential diagnosis of common health problems for diverse groups provide the context for advanced health assessment and clinical reasoning.

N619: Advanced Pharmacology-3 credits
This course reviews in depth the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices.  The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course.

N630: Research Methodology in Nursing- 3 credits
Relationship between research and theory development and clinical practice in nursing. Includes research design, methods of data collection, and a variety of analytical procedures for interpreting results.

Electives

In addition to the core courses, the following electives courses are needed:

12 additional credits, at least three of which must be from the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. The remaining nine credits must meet the conditions for graduate credit as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin.

Eligibility

Students enrolled in the PhD or DNP programs will be eligible to apply for this concentration. The goal of the MSNS concentration is to recognize students who have completed the necessary credits for a master’s degree in nursing and to provide competent MS-prepared nurses for generalist roles in nursing. This flexible program of study is intended for candidates in our doctoral or master’s programs who have fulfilled the requirements of the MSNS but are unable to complete their full plan of study or for those PhD or DNP students who were admitted as post-bachelor’s students and wish to complete the MSNS en route to completing the doctorate.

II. Nursing Education Concentration (MSNE): 32 credits

The Master of Science in Nursing Education prepares students to educate nursing students and health care professionals in the classroom, clinical, and online learning environment for the overall enhancement of nursing practice and health care delivery. The program fulfills the knowledge and competencies specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for master’s education and for the specific master’s in nursing education role and readies graduates to take the National League for Nursing certification examinations.

At the completion of this program, the graduate will be prepared to:

1. Develop a grounding in pedagogical theories
2. Evaluate nursing curriculum using accreditation guidelines
3. Consider quality measures in nursing education in developing and evaluating nursing curriculum
4. Use creative teaching methods to enhance pedagogy
5. Reflect on their own teaching style as a means of incorporating new teaching strategies
6. Train nurses for education roles in colleges, universities, and clinical settings
7. Develop an area of advanced clinical expertise for further development of the nurse educator role

Course Requirements

The Nursing Education concentration in the master’s program consists of 32 credits, including the six core courses in our Master of Science curriculum listed below and N621, a direct care clinical practicum in which the student will develop an area of advanced expertise in nursing practice.

MSNE Required Courses, and Course Sequence

MSNE Course Descriptions

N560 Simulation for Healthcare Education- 3 credits
Critique theories associated with simulation, communication, and evaluation of student outcomes. Reviews care of simulation equipment and software and how to create and facilitate simulations culminating with a developed simulation.

N621 Clinical Practicum for Advanced Direct Care and Clinical Reasoning for Nurse Educators- 2 credit
This supervised clinical practicum affords graduate students the opportunity to practice direct nursing care of diverse clients with varied needs in an identified area of nursing
practice at an advanced level while collaborating with an interprofessional team.

N641 Curriculum Development and Evaluation Process in Nursing- 3 credits
This course focuses on developing the knowledge and skills of nurse educators in applying principles of curriculum development, evaluation, and related processes in nursing education.

N642 Teaching in Nursing- 3 credits
Focuses on the dynamic, creative process of teaching and learning clinical nursing in preparation for competent, reflective nursing practice. Philosophies, theories, methodologies, and trends relevant to nursing education included.

N698T Teaching Practicum in Nursing (Pre-requisites: N642 and N641)
This course provides the framework, mentorship, and coaching for graduate students to develop skills in teaching in the classroom, in clinical settings, and in an online environment.

Clinical and Teaching Practicum Information

Students have two practicums as part of their plan of study in the MSNE program. The first, N621 Clinical Practicum for Advanced Direct Care and Clinical Reasoning for Nurse Educators, is a direct care practicum in which students will develop an area of nursing expertise in a direct patient care setting. This is a two-credit clinical practicum course, which translates to 112 contact hours (at a one-credit-hour to four-clinical-hour ratio). These direct care clinical contact hours are allocated for supervised practice in selected clinical facilities or community agencies. Placement will be arranged through negotiation with clinical preceptors, agencies, and the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing.

Direct Care Learning Environment: Patient or Patient Population Setting

Examples:

• Health care facility/primary care setting
• Community/public health setting or outreach site
• Psychiatric-mental health setting
• OB/GYN or other specialty site
• Acute or chronic medical-surgical or long-term care/rehabilitation setting

The student will be assigned to a qualified preceptor who will guide the student in meeting course objectives. The course faculty will collaborate with the preceptor throughout the clinical practicum and will be responsible for evaluating the student’s performance and progress. Students will record their clinical hours in Typhon.

Practicum Focus

The AACN/CCNE master’s in nursing education Essentials emphasize practicum experience at the master’s degree level in the direct care role as a critical component in nursing educator training to advance the knowledge and expertise of students in a clinical area of practice. “Direct care” is defined as “nursing care provided to individuals or families that is intended to achieve specific health goals or achieve selected health outcomes.”

In N621, students will master clinical reasoning and nursing at the advanced graduate level. Depending on the plan of study, the practicum will run concurrently or sequentially with N614 Advanced Health Assessment, aligning with the didactic and theoretical material covered in the latter course. Students will hone baccalaureate level skills in health and physical assessment while advancing to higher level clinical reasoning skills and applying those skills within an identified clinical area of practice to build graduate level expertise in that area. Focus will be on analysis of patients/clients within the practice setting and application of evidence for best practice outcomes in developing and actualizing a treatment plan and patient education in collaboration with a preceptor and healthcare team.

Student Requirements for Nursing Education Practicum Sites and Preceptor Selection:

This practicum N621 will provide the opportunity for students to develop graduate level expertise in a specific area of nursing practice. All students must complete all pre-practicum requirements, including uploading documentation to the online credentialing platform (Castle Branch) before beginning clinical contact hours. See current graduate student handbook for specifics of requirements for entry to a clinical practicum site.

Students will engage in a search for their preceptors with the help of faculty. Acceptable qualified preceptors include master’s prepared nurses working directly with patients, Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNL), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Midwives (CNMs), or MDs. Students may follow preceptors in hospitals, clinics, private practice settings and/or community settings. Students may choose settings such as acute or chronic care, long term care or rehabilitation, palliative care, psychiatric-mental health, public health primary care that match our faculty members’ areas of expertise and practice.

A student may choose to have two preceptors, if having two preceptors’ aids in achieving course requirements. Preceptors must have at least one year or greater experience in their field of expertise. Pre-approval by the practicum faculty or MS Director of all preceptors is required. Site visits for some local/regional students and online virtual or phone conference calls for all local/regional students and online virtual or phone conference calls for all local, regional, and distance preceptors will be completed during the practicum. The clinical practicum faculty of record for the course has responsibility for overall evaluation of all students and will rely, in part, on preceptors’ evaluations of students and students’ self-evaluations.

Students will arrange to complete hours as per preceptor/student schedules but should plan for about 8 hours per week so that contact hours can be completed by the end of the course. Each student will download the course syllabi (Both N614 and N621), the preceptor/faculty/student agreement, the preceptor handbook including preceptor orientation materials and all evaluation forms available in the Graduate Preceptor Handbook and Graduate Student Handbook and deliver to the preceptor on/before the initial contract meeting. The College of Nursing needs a signed preceptor/faculty/student agreement, preceptor’s resume/CV and contact information sent to the College of Nursing before contact hours can begin to be included in your student file and our preceptor directory.

Students will enroll in Typhon at the beginning of the program and document their clinical hours for N621 in the Typhon Software. They will continue to document their teaching hours in Typhon when they take their teaching practicum course, N698T and will develop a teaching portfolio.

Master’s Degree Program Office                                                                                          

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
lyovina [at] umass [dot] edu (Lynn Yovina,) Program Specialist

III. Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Concentration: 32 credits 

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) concentration strengthens health care delivery by teaching the advanced knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive, across-the-life-span nursing services to individuals, families and groups. Teaching, inquiry and outreach prepare professional nurses to think critically and reflectively, prepare to serve a culturally diverse population, and manage care autonomously while holistically assessing and treating both health care needs and human responses to illness. The concentration also promotes social accountability; students are educated and encouraged to work for reform in the healthcare system at the community, regional and national levels. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national nursing education accrediting body, accredits this concentration.

The CNL is accountable for the application of research-based information and the efficient and cost-effective use of resources to improve clinical and environmental care outcomes and effect change in health care organizations.

The graduate is prepared to lead both intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary health care teams, and to function across all clinical settings in order to meet the demands of a complex care delivery system.

This program addresses the knowledge and competencies specified by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) for Master’s Education and for the specific Clinical Nurse Leader role focus. The graduate is prepared to take the CNL certification examination prepared by the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) through AACN.

Objectives of the Master of Science Clinical Nurse Leader Program

This program will prepare students to:

• Implement the CNL role in a variety of clinical settings
• Apply advanced knowledge (pharmacology, pathophysiology, health assessment) and core competencies (critical thinking, communication, nursing technology/resources) to the development and evaluation of a plan of care for individuals or populations at the point of care
• Assume accountability for the efficient and cost-effective use of human, environmental and national resources by applying principles of healthcare policy, finance, economics and ethics to improve quality of care delivery
• Integrate knowledge of informatics, human diversity and ethics to address and manage variation in population outcomes and ensure culturally relevant care
• Implement evidence-based practices and professional standards of care to affect change in health care organizations and improve outcomes of care
• Apply principles of leadership and collaboration to improve the health outcomes of individuals and clinical populations
• Improve clinical practice and optimize healthcare outcomes through use of information systems and technologies
• Advocate for the client, interdisciplinary care team and profession in legislative and regulatory arenas

Course Requirements

The Master’s CNL concentration requires completion of 32 credit hours of coursework and selected courses include practicum/project hours. The curriculum consists of: 24 didactic credit hours and 8 practicum credit hours.

CNL Courses

*N698N & N798N Clinical contact hours are devoted to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the CNL Capstone Project.

Sequence of Coursework through the Master’s CNL Concentration

Students enrolled in the Master’s CNL concentration must progress through coursework as specified in their individualized Plans of Study. Students need to take informatics, theory, research, and epidemiology before or concurrent with the launch of care core courses. In terms of the sequence of the care core courses: students must take N615 Advanced Pathophysiology and N619 Advanced Pharmacology before they progress to N614 Advanced Health Assessment. Students are expected to apply learned content from the previous two courses throughout the didactic course N614. 

All courses in the MS CNL concentration must be successfully completed before the student is allowed to enter their final clinical year of the program. The final clinical courses, N698N (2 cr.-112 contact hours) and N798N (6 cr. – 336 contact hours) for a total of 448 hours for students to be able to design and then implement a microsystem level Capstone Project.

CNL Capstone project

Students will identify a practice-focused quality improvement project (all N698N) and will actualize and evaluate the project (spring N798N) either on their units or within a setting of their choice once negotiated. These will be negotiated and designed by the faculty of record for the courses and the students individually.

Both fall (N698N) and spring (N798N) clinical experiences are completed in the same setting. The setting requirement is that there be a patient population cared for by nurses. The setting will depend on the subject of the Capstone proposal. CNL students need a preceptor from the setting to oversee the project, and the student may work with one preceptor or a team.

Note: The primary requirement for the main preceptor is a master’s degree in nursing. If there is a certified CNL in the setting, that person would be an ideal preceptor. Many students work with master’s prepared nursing educators, or even a nurse manager who has a MS in nursing. Students will log practicum hours completed for the two final clinical courses in a diary or journal format. If you have any questions about suitable preceptors, you may contact the CNL Program Director.

In the N698N and N798N CNL Practicum courses, the capstone project is designed (in N698N) and then actualized at the micro-system level in N798N.

Goals and objectives for N698N and N798N:

1. Identify and collect appropriate evidence and data supporting a previously identified clinical issue important to your setting.
2. Conduct a trend analysis of the data, appropriate for this issue.
3. Analyze sentinel events related to the identified clinical issue.

Key areas for success 

1. Find a topic for which you have a passion!
2. Find a knowledgeable person who wants to share that passion and guide you.
3. Engage your support people in your efforts.
4. Be flexible, plan well ahead, and be persistent!

Clinical Requirements

CNL students are to follow the guidelines for College of Nursing students as outlined in this book. All students must complete the requirements of CastleBranch as a pre-requisite to beginning a clinical practicum.

Faculty Advisors

All College of Nursing faculty members who have graduate faculty status are potential advisors for master’s students. Students will be assigned an advisor upon admission. Graduate students are expected to meet at least once per semester with their advisor to outline their plan of study and discuss academic progress.

Clinical Nurse Leader Program Office

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
Lynn Yovina, Program Specialist

IV  Public Health Concentration (36 credits)

Objective of the Master of Science Public Health degree (MS-PH)

This master’s degree will enable students to apply clinical nursing expertise and population health skills in state and local Public Health and Community Health agencies, Visiting Nurse and Homecare Associations, Federal Agencies and teach population health nursing. Population based practice in nursing focuses on improving the health of the whole community whether locally, nationally, or globally, including individuals, families, and communities, with particular emphasis on underserved and marginalized populations.  It involves a process of assessment, policy planning and development of holistic plans of care as well as critical thinking and interprofessional collaboration at the systems level.

Course Requirements

The Public Health concentration in the master’s program consists of 36 credits including two practicum experiences (N698G & N798LL).

The final two semesters will involve specialty courses and clinical practicums in public and population health practice.  These courses emphasize community engagement and collaboration including community needs assessments, practice in grant writing and the application and evaluation of evidence based nursing practice at the public health and population level.

Course Descriptions

N540 Epidemiology for Clinicians (3cr)
This course provides in-depth theoretical knowledge on concepts and principles of epidemiology and its application in health promotion and disease prevention. Its focus will be on key areas of epidemiology.

N640 Advanced Public Health Nursing I is a course that is designed to provide advanced practice nurses specializing in the role of the Public Health Nurse Leader with the knowledge and skills required to identify and analyze population-based public health problems as they occur in the local, national, and global community. Analysis and evaluation of health problems at the community and population level will occur with evidenced based strategies designed to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention, research, practice, education, and policy.

N750 Advanced Public Health Nursing II course is an examination of the theories, models and process of public health program planning, with a focus on designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating population-based public health programs, including financial program management and effective grant writing strategies.

Master of Science – Public Health Office

University of Massachusetts Amherst
Elaine Marieb College of Nursing
032 Skinner Hall
Amherst, MA 01003-9304
lyovina [at] umass [dot] edu (Lynn Yovina), Program Specialist

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Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program

General Information

The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers the Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree to prepare advanced practice nurses at the highest level. This professional nursing preparation will include advanced coursework in leadership, research translation, and clinical knowledge and skills. This degree emphasizes the evolving nursing roles in an increasingly complex health care system, new scientific knowledge, and ongoing concerns about the quality and outcomes of patient care. Applicants to the DNP program will choose from among the following specialization areas:

• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Public Health Nurse Leader
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Applicants who are already Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) will complete the core courses of the DNP program (DNP Completion).

Objectives of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program 

This program will prepare students to:

• Engage in nursing practice using the advanced knowledge from nursing and related disciplines to improve health outcomes.
• Provide leadership and collaborate with leaders in other professions for change in systems of care.
• Synthesize and translate evidence from nursing and other disciplines to manage complex health problems.
• Supply culturally proficient care to respond to health disparities and societal needs.

Core competencies essential for those preparing for direct care and population-based roles build on eight essential content areas:

• scientific underpinnings for practice
• organizational and systems leadership for quality improvement, and systems thinking
• clinical scholarship and analytic methods for evidence-based practice
• technology and information for the improvement and transformation of healthcare
• health care policy for advocacy in health care
• interprofessional collaboration for improving patient and population healthcare outcomes
• clinical prevention and population health for improving the nation’s health
• advanced nursing practice for improving the delivery of patient care

Course Requirements

The DNP Program requires completion of core foundation and upper-level core courses, as well as courses in either the FNP, AGPCNP, PMHNP, or PHNL role concentration (see sample plans of study). If a student already holds a master’s APN degree, an individually tailored Plan of Study will be created based on transcript review. A post-master’s student must complete a minimum of 30 semester credits to complete the DNP degree. The final scholarly requirement of the DNP program is the DNP project, which is a requirement for graduation.

Faculty Advisors

All Elaine Marieb College of Nursing faculty members who have graduate faculty status are potential advisors for DNP students. Students will be assigned an advisor who is congruent with their area of interest wheneer possible. DNP students are expected to meet regularly with their advisors to outline their plan of study, discuss academic coursework, and to prepare for the comprehensive exame and capstone scholarly project. 

DNP Role Course Sequencing and Preceptor Selection

The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program is focused on advanced nursing practice and requires a core of theoretical knowledge and a significant number of practice hours. The Elaine Marieb College of Nursing DNP curriculum adheres to the requirements of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “Essentials of DNP Education", the guidelines established by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), and The American Association of Community Health Educators. The UMass Amherst DNP program stipulates that all students engage in practicum experiences to fulfill the hours required of a practice doctorate. Post-master’s DNP students are required to document the number of practicum hours they obtained in their previous master’s degree program.

How to Select Preceptors

Preceptors should hold advanced degrees (a graduate degree) in nursing or medicine. Nurse Practitioners (MS prepared NP experts or DNP graduates) or physicians are preferred preceptors, but Physician Assistants (PAs) may be approved on a case-by-case basis. College of Nursing faculty instructors must approve all preceptors before a student can begin a practicum experience.

Preceptors and agencies are selected based upon their best fit with the course objectives and practicum focus for each course. Students must submit all required practicum documents well in advance of any experiences with an agency or community preceptor. Practicum guidelines are found in both the Preceptor Handbook and the University’s Graduate Student Handbook.

Please plan well in advance with the Graduate Clinical Placements. It often works best if a student plans for and secures an approved preceptor(s) for courses up to a year in advance. The College supports students who are looking for clinical placements. The College Clinical Placement Coordinator is available to assist with identifying sites and DNP staff can assist with establishing affiliation agreements and other clinical site requirements.  Up-to-date comprehensive information about clinical sites and preceptors is available in the DNP program folder.

If a student has not been successful in securing an approved preceptor prior to the beginning of any practicum experience, the student may be required to withdraw from the course. Withdrawal from a course will affect progression through the specialty courses and a new Plan of Study will be required.

Practicum Preceptor Selection

Preceptors should hold avanced (graduate) degrees in nursing or medicine. Nurse Practitioners (MS-prepared NP experts or DNP graduates) or physicians are preferred preceptors, but Physician Assistants (PAs) may be approved on a case-by-case basis. College of Nursing faculty instructors must approve all preceptors before a student can begin a practicum experience. 

 Preceptors and agencies are selected based upon their best fit with the course objectives and practicum focus for each course. Students must submit all required practicum documents well in advance of any experiences with an agency or community preceptor. Practicum guidelines are in the Graduate Student Handbook (https://www.umass.edu/graduate/policies/handbook).

Please plan well in advance with the Graduate Clinical Placements. It often works best if a student plans for and secures an approved preceptor(s) for courses up to a year in advance. The College supports students who are looking for clinical placements. The College Clinical Placement Coordinator is available to assist with identifying sites and DNP staff can assist with establishing affiliation agreements and other clinical site requirements.

If a student has not been successful in securing an approved preceptor prior to the beginning of any practicum experience, the student may be required to withdraw from the course. Withdrawal from a course will affect progression through the specialty courses and a new Plan of Study will be required. 

DNP Core Courses

All DNP students take the core courses in addition to their specialty courses (except for Post Master’s DNP Completion students who do not need specialty courses).

DNP Concentration Courses

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adult Gerontology Primary Care (AGPCNP) Courses

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Adulty Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) Course Descriptions and Sequencing

Prior to beginning any specialty courses in the FNP/AGPCNP program, students must successfully complete N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning, N615 Advanced Pathophysiology, and N619 Advanced Pharmacology. Students must also have completed (or take concurrently) N703 Pharmacotherapeutics and both FNPs/AGPCNPs N670 Family Systems and Interventions when enrolled in the first specialty courses in the sequence, N614 and N698A.

In the FNP/AGPCNP program curriculum, there is a series of five theory courses with five concurrent practicum courses that provide content and experience in the specialty area of advanced primary care/family nurse practitioner. After completing these specialty courses, students will engage in the Final Immersion Practicum taken during their final semester in the DNP program. All FNP/AGPCNP students are required to take these courses unless they have a master’s degree in a nurse practitioner specialty and have received some course waivers at the time of admission. These courses build upon each other and must be taken in the sequence outlined in the plan of study.

FNP and ACPCNP Course Descriptions:

N615 Advanced Pathophysiology - 3 credits 
This course examines the conceptual basis and specific knowledge of pathophysiology and disease recognition for children and adults as observed in the primary care setting.

N619 Advanced Pharmacology - 3 credits 
This course reviews in-depth the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices. The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course.

N703 Pharmacotherapy Management - 3 credits 
Integration of principles of pharmacology and therapeutic patient care management to construct, implement and evaluate optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens for patients in various healthcare settings. This course includes an assignment with a local pharmacist.

N670 Family Systems and Interventions - 3 credits 
Selected concepts, theories and research related to family dynamics and family coping, with an emphasis on practice strategies to support family well-being and mental health.

N643 Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders - 3 credits
This course introduces the diagnostic processes in mental health/mental disorders using DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, ICD coding, and other mental assessment tools while considering family, community, and cultural influences.

N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning - 3 credits & N698A Practicum - 1 credit (must be taken concurrently)
N698A is the first practicum course in the FNP/DNP specialty concentration sequence. Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive health assessments and develop enhanced capacity for clinical reasoning and laboratory test interpretation.  Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698A, the first clinical practicum experience in the FNP specialty that affords students the opportunity to develop+ competence and confidence in a precepted clinical experience while applying knowledge obtained in a concurrent theory course.

Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 56 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698A UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. This first practicum experience, which starts mid-way through the semester, concentrates on the “Art” of Clinical Reasoning and, therefore, most any qualified provider from a variety of healthcare settings can be appropriate.

The concentration of the practicum is for students to learn the techniques and practices of the “Focused Case Visit” and the “Complete History and Exam Visit” to acquire a sound knowledge base in diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis prior to launching into the individual patient population courses. NPs and MDs who see patients of all ages in a primary care setting are preferred.

N610 Primary Health Care of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults - 3 credits & N698E Practicum: Primary Health Care of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults- 3 credits (must be taken concurrently)
Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to assess, maintain, and promote the health and well-being of culturally diverse children, adolescents, and young adults. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698E. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698E UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a provider who services infants through young adults either in a family practice or in a practice that specializes in the care of children and young adults. Primary care and family practice NPs and MDs or pediatric NPs or pediatricians are appropriate choices for preceptors for this semester. Students will concentrate their experiences with patients with simple acute or stable chronic health problems.

N620 Primary Health Care of Adults and Older Adults - 3 credits & N698X Practicum: Primary Health Care of Adults - 3 credits (must be taken concurrently)
Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to assess, maintain, and promote the health and well-being of culturally diverse adults and older adults. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698X. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698X UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a provider who adult patients either in a family practice or in a practice that specializes in the care of adults and older adults. Primary care NPs and MDs and ANPs are preferred choices for preceptors. Internal Medicine Specialists, GNPs, or Geriatricians can be appropriate choices for preceptors for this semester as approved by the faculty. Students will concentrate their experiences with patients with simple acute or stable chronic health problems.

N723 Complex Health Problems in Primary Care I - 2 credits & N798K Practicum: Complex Health Problems in Primary Care - 2 credits (must be taken concurrently)
Content and practicum focus is on building knowledge and skills beyond the provision of primary care for singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions of separate populations of patients to a focus on health care of patients of all ages with complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798K. Students will select an agency and a preceptor(s) in their community and engage in 112 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N798K UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a family provider or a pediatric and an adult provider to assure that complex patients of all ages will be seen; providers can be NPs or MDs or a combination of both.

N733 Complex Health Problems in Primary Care II - 2 credits & N798KA Practicum: Complex Health Problems in Primary Care II - 2 credits (must be taken concurrently)
This course provides students specializing in the advanced practice role of the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills beyond that of the singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions of separate populations of patients that has been the focus of previous courses in the specialty. This course affords the opportunity to focus on health care of patients of all ages with complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798KA and completing 112 clinical practicum hours.

N706 Complex Health Problems with Multiple Chronic Conditions II - 2 credits & N798S Practicum: Complex Health Problems with Multiple Chronic Conditions II - 2 credits (must be taken concurrently)
This course provides students specializing in the advanced practice role of the Adult Gerontological Primary Care or FNP (DNP) Nurse Practitioner student the opportunity to build knowledge and skills beyond that of the singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions. This course affords the opportunity to focus on health care of adult and older adult patients (including frail elders) with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798S. The N798S UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a MD or NP geriatric/gerontology and adult provider to assure that complex patients will be seen; providers can be NPs or MDs or a combination of both for a total of 112 hours (52 hours needs to be in sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care practice environments).

DNP Concentration Courses
Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Course Sequence and Course Descriptions and Sequencing

The DNP Post-Baccalaureate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role concentration prepares clinical experts in the delivery of care to the psychiatric-mental health population.  They work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, assessing, diagnosing and treating individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders using their full scope of therapeutic skills.

More information the PMHNP role may be found at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association website.

In addition to the DNP core courses, the PMHNP students take:

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Courses

PMHNP Course Descriptions

N615 Advanced Pathophysiology - 3 credits
This course examines the conceptual basis and specific knowledge of pathophysiology and disease recognition for children and adults as observed in the primary care setting. 

N619 Advanced Pharmacology- 3 credits
This course reviews in depth the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices. The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course. 

N703 Pharmacotherapy Management - 3 credits
Integration of principles of pharmacology and therapeutic patient care management to construct, implement and evaluate optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens for patients in various health care settings. this course includes and assignment with a local pharmacist. 

N670 Family Systems and Interventions - 3 credits
Selected concepts, theories and research related to family dynamics and family coping with an emphasis on practice strategies to support family well-being and mental health.

N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (3 credits) and N698A Practicum: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (1 credit) (must be taken concurrently)
Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive health assessments and develop enhanced capacity for clinical reasoning and laboratory test interpretation. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698A, the first clinical practicum experience in the FNP specialty that affords students the opportunity to develop competence and confidence in a precepted clinical experience while applying knowledge obtained in a concurrent theory course.

Students will select and agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 56 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698A UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. This first practicum experience, which starts mid-way through the semester, concentrates on the “Art” of Clinical Reasoning and, therefore, most any qualified provider from a variety of healthcare settings can be appropriate. The concentration of the practicum is for students to learn the techniques and practices of the “Focused Case Visit” and the “Complete History and Exam Visit” to acquire a sound knowledge base in diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis prior to launching into the individual patient population courses. NPs and MDs who see patients of all ages in a primary care setting are preferred.

Specialty Courses:

N643 Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders – 3 cr.

This course introduces the diagnostic processes in mental health/mental disorders using DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, ICD coding, and other mental assessment tools while considering family, community, and cultural influences.

N580 Integrative Therapies in Health Care

This course will examine integrative health therapies including the cultural contexts of health and health care, telehealth, dynamics of systems and individual change, and evidence-based analysis of therapeutic effectiveness.

N707 Neuropsychopharmacology- 3 credits

This course examines the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric mental health disorders and is structured to develop the student with a logical approach and treatment strategy to use when prescribing.

N612 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents- 3 credits

Content in the psychopathology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders affecting children and adolescents are presented.

N698CA Practicum: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents- 3 credits

This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based health care agency providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing care to children, adolescents, and their families, 168 clinical practicum hours.

N622 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults- 3 credits

This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community- based health care agency/facility providing psychiatric mental health care to children, adolescents, and their families.

N698AD Practicum: Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults- 3 credits

This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum in a community- based health agency or facility providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health care to adults and older adults, 168 clinical practicum hours.

N721 Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families- 2 credits

This course continues preparing students in developing advanced skills to deliver individual, group and family psychosocial therapeutics using evidence based psychosocial treatment models across the lifespan.

N798GF Practicum: Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families- 2 credits

This course consists of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based inpatient or outpatient mental health care agency providing psychotherapeutic mental health care to individuals, groups, and families, 112 clinical practicum hours.

N722 Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems- 3 credits

A refinement of advanced knowledge and skills required to deliver psychiatric mental health care to culturally diverse individuals of all ages with complex mental health and psychiatric issues.

N798X Practicum: Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems- 3 credits

This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a health care agency/facility providing psychiatric mental health care to individuals, 112 clinical practicum hours.

N898D Practicum: Final Direct Care residency- 2 credits

This final practicum is an essential component of the DNP program that affords students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their area of specialty practice as they complete 12 hours of practicum experiences in one semester. This practicum provides an intensive immersion opportunity for students to further enhance and integrate their prior learning and to gain experience with designated DNP essentials and specialty competencies.

DNP Concentration Courses - Public Health Nurse Leader (PHNL) - Role Course Descriptions and Sequencing

The Public Health Nurse Leader (DNP- PHNL) specialization prepares nurses to assume leadership positions in a variety of settings. 

Critical Need for Public Health Nurse Leaders

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for nurse leaders who are trained in population-level health assessment and intervention. The need for public health nurse leaders is expected to grow significantly in the coming decade as our society confronts the impacts of infectious diseases, natural disasters, climate change, growing concerns about health disparities and social justice issues, and an aging population with a growing number of patients with chronic and acute conditions.

In addition to the DNP core courses, PHNL students take:

Public Health Nurse Leader (PHNL) Courses

Public Health Nurse Leader (PHNL) - Role Courses and Sequencing

In the DNP/PHNL program curriculum, there is a series of 3 theory courses with 3 concurrent practicum courses that provide content and experience in the specialty area of advanced public health nursing. After completing these specialty courses, students will engage in the Final Immersion Practicum N898A, taken during their final semester in the DNP program. All PHNL students are required to take these courses unless they have a master’s degree in Community or Public Health Nursing and have received some course waivers at the time of admission.

The PHNL program includes 4 practicum courses, three of these courses are 3 credit practicum courses that require 168 hours of supervised practice, for a total of 504 hours. In the final semester of the DNP program, students will take the Final Immersion Practicum N898A for 6 credits (336 hours – of which 150 hours may be used to implement the required DNP Scholarly Project).

The three (3) theory courses in the PHNL sequence are designed to provide instruction in Advanced Public Health Nursing. In the 3 concurrent practicum courses, students implement the knowledge they acquire in the companion theory courses. These courses must be taken in sequential order, as they build upon each other. The Final Immersion Practicum course, N898A, is not taken until the last semester of the student’s coursework in the DNP program.                                        

PHNL Course Descriptions

EHS565 Environmental Health Practices (3 cr)
Concepts of control methods used by environmental health and engineering practitioners. Topics include water, wastewater, solid wastes, food sanitation, vector control, housing, and accident control measures.

HPP601 Application of Social and Behavioral Theories in Public Health Interventions (3 cr)
Methods and approaches to community health. Family, school, and community dimensions and potentials. Types and use of various methods leading to community action. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

HPP620 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System (3 cr)
The organization, finance, and delivery of health care in the U.S. Examines the role of government in financing care, maintaining quality, the relationship between health policy and politics, historical forces that have shaped our health care system, and contemporary issues and controversies.

HPP628 Financial Management of Health Institutions (3cr)
The fundamental tools for management control and decision making in health care organizations. The budgeting and financial management process. Prerequisite: PUBHLTH 620.

N540 Epidemiology for Clinicians (3cr) This course provides in-depth theoretical knowledge on concepts and principles of epidemiology and its application in health promotion and disease prevention. Its focus will be on key areas of epidemiology.

N640 Advanced Public Health Nursing I (3 cr) This course is designed to provide advanced practice nurses specializing in the role of the Public Health Nurse Leader with the knowledge and skills required to identify and analyze population-based public health problems as they occur in the local, national, and global community. Analysis and evaluation of health problems at the community and population level will occur with evidenced based strategies designed to strengthen health promotion and disease prevention, research, practice, education, and policy. Application of this knowledge also occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698G. Specific course objectives include:

N750 Advanced Public Health Nursing II course (3cr) This course is an examination of the theories, models and process of public health program planning, with a focus on designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating population-based public health programs, including financial program management and effective grant writing strategies.

N760 Contemporary Issues in Public Health Practice III (3 cr)

As the final course in the DNP Public Health Nurse Leader specialty sequence this course provides students with the opportunity to examine the complexity of current global problems in public health and explore political, cultural, ethical, and environmental considerations affecting the development and implementation of targeted public health interventions. 

DNP Post-Masters Completion Courses (For currently certified APNs)

The online Post-MS DNP Completion program prepares established Advanced Practice Nurses to reach the highest level of the nursing profession and to deliver expert care, innovative practice, and translate evidence-based care to the clinical setting.

Students who enter this DNP Program option must be Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) who are currently certified as FNP, AGPCNP, AGACNP, ANP, PNP, GNP, ACNP, Nurse Midwife, Nurse Anesthetist, or CNS.

All DNP students - DNP Final Project Description

The DNP Project begins with the student selecting a problem arising from clinical or public health practice. Graduates of the DNP program are uniquely prepared to help bridge the research-practice gap by appropriately developing, tailoring, implementing, and evaluating theoretically and evidence- based projects and programs and disseminating the results. Graduates are then able to deliver the intended benefit of the research evidence to the group, population, or community. The DNP project gives students a supervised opportunity to independently undertake this research translation process.

The problem under study in the DNP project must represent an identified need, as evidenced by a review of current literature, a community assessment, or other method of needs identification. For the project to be most effective, the stakeholders present at the site must agree that there is a need for the project and must be consulted and involved throughout the project. Indeed, the project may be done in partnership with the clinical agency, health department, College, church, government or community agency, voluntary organization, or community group.

The project literature review must support the need for the project and suggest an evidence base for the project. The literature review should include research studies on innovations that can be synthesized and developed into a program to address the practice problem. Further, the student must be seen as a credible authority on both the problem and the research-based innovation/program by stakeholders in the setting, thus, the focus of the problem and innovation/program must be on advanced nursing practice in the student’s specialty area. Finally, the student must be sufficiently familiar with the specific site in which the program will be implemented to tailor the program to the site’s organization, resources, and constraints.

DNP Project Completion Process

In preparation for the DNP project, students are assigned one College of Nursing faculty member and will identify an appropriate project site mentor. Students are expected to work closely with their capstone course,  faculty project chair, and project site mentor   throughout the process of completing the DNP project. Students should anticipate the need for multiple drafts before final approval of the proposal and final DNP project report.

The project site mentor should have substantive expertise in terms of the topic of the DNP work. A project site mentor with a Master or Doctoral degree is preferred, but the project site mentor may have no academic credential yet be predominant EXPERT in a certain field. As the expert in the field of the student's programmatic intervention, they may have the background necessary to help guide the DNP project, providing detailed advice regarding the progress of the work from proposal development through actualization of the project, analysis of the results, and the conclusions.

The project site mentor must approve the proposal, the work, and final write-up along with the faculty members. A project site mentor can be a nurse practitioner, physician, and/or a public health leader within the facility or community where the project will be actualized. The designated project site mentor may be from anywhere in the world, so long as they have consented to the position on the committee and expressed a willingness to guide from a distance. The DNP Project Chair has final approval authority on the Project.

A student must receive a grade of C or above to pass the DNP Project requirement. Upon final completion and approval, the student should submit the DNP FORM, “Approval of DNP Scholarly Project” to the DNP office and their course instructor once the final approval is given.

The final requirement also includes posting your DNP Project on ScholarWorks on the UMass Amherst Library site (signatures are not required, names may be typed on the DNP Project Title Page). Instructions are provided to the student on how to do this within the course shell. All DNP projects should be presented to a professional audience either at Scholarship Day or at clinical site or a professional conference.

Protection of Human Subjects

Students must complete the “Human Subjects Determination” form through the Kuali website. This occurs once the proposal is written and considered “ready” for this step in the project process by the course faculty. The UMass Amherst Institutional Review Board (IRB) will determine whether the project needs additional IRB review and notify the student with a memorandum of determination via email. More Information is available at: https://www.umass.edu/research/compliance/human-subjects-irb 

NOTE: Students may NOT begin data collection prior to receiving IRB determination.

DNP Final Project Course Descriptions

N742: Defining Evidence for Problems and Solutions- 3 credits

This course focuses on discussions and assignments regarding health intervention planning, implementation, and evaluation for the refinement and approval of the DNP Project proposal. Evaluating the evidence (literature review) and completing a gap analysis are fundamental aspects of this course.

N798U: Evidence Based Proposal Development- 2 credits

This course is the second course in the sequence of five courses for the DNP, and the first of two courses designed to concentrate students’ efforts on a community of interest (COI) / organizational assessment and analysis to refine and solidify key concepts from the literature review completed in Capstone I. There are 112  project hours required for this course. Data collection and project implementation (i.e., project timeline) should not begin until after IRB approval (end of summer semester / Capstone III or beginning of Fall semester / Capstone IV).

N798W: DNP Project Proposal Finalization and Approval- 1 credit

This course focuses on finalizing the proposal for the planned scholarly project. Two drafts of the proposal are read by course faculty and feedback given. If your adviser is available over the summer, you may work on early approval and then application to IRB. All students are required to at least draft the Human Subjects form in this course. There are 56 hours of project  hours required for this course for the refinement and approval of the DNP Project proposal.

N840: DNP Project Implementation and Monitoring- 3 credits

This course involves the actual implementation of the planned proposal. This includes seeking and obtaining advisor and IRB approval and a letter of support from the clinical site of project if you have not obtained one already. You will implement and work on your project at the designated site with your preceptor or mentor. There are 168 hours of project  hours required for this course.

N898A: DNP Project Completion, Evaluation and Dissemination- 3 credits

This course is the fifth and final course in the DNP Project sequence and culminates with an evaluation of the completed project. You will complete and evaluate your DNP project at the designated site with your preceptor / mentor. There are 168 hours of project  hours required for this course.

The DNP Project focuses on the implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination of a theoretically based research translation project designed as a programmatic intervention to address a practice problem.

Successful progression depends upon completing required course work, according to the student’s plan of study, maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, and working closely with advisor. The advisor and student should be mindful of incomplete grades and students whose CGPA falls below 3.0 who will be in jeopardy of dismissal by the College of Nursing and the University.

Final Spring Semester of Study in the DNP Program

• N898D: Final Immersion Practicum- 2 credits

This final practicum is an essential component of the DNP program that affords students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their area of specialty practice as they complete 112 hours of practicum experiences in one semester. This practicum provides an intensive immersion opportunity for students to further enhance and integrate their prior learning and to gain experience with designated DNP essentials and specialty competencies.

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Concentrations in the DNP Program

Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) & Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) - Role Courses and Sequencing

Prior to beginning any specialty courses in the FNP/AGPCNP program, students must successfully complete N615 Advanced Pathophysiology, and N619 Advanced Pharmacology. Students must also have completed (or take concurrently) N703 Pharmacotherapeutics and both FNPs/AGPCNPs N670 Family Systems and Interventions when enrolled in the first specialty courses in the sequence, N614 and N698A.

In the FNP/AGPCNP program curriculum, there is a series of five theory courses with five concurrent practicum courses that provide content and experience in the specialty area of advanced primary care/family nurse practitioner. After completing these specialty courses, students will engage in the Final Immersion Practicum taken during their final semester in the DNP program. All FNP/AGPCNP students are required to take these courses, unless they have a Master’s degree in a nurse practitioner specialty, and have received some course waivers at the time of admission. These courses build upon each other and must be taken in the sequence outlined in the Plan of Study.

Course Descriptions:

N615 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.) - This course examines the conceptual basis and specific knowledge of pathophysiology and disease recognition for children and adults as observed in the primary care setting.

N619 Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.) - This course reviews in-depth the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices. The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course.

N703 Pharmacotherapy Management (3 cr.) - Integration of principles of pharmacology and therapeutic patient care management to construct, implement and evaluate optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens for patients in various healthcare settings. This course includes an assignment with a local pharmacist.

N670 Family Systems and Interventions (3 cr.) - Selected concepts, theories and research related to family dynamics and family coping, with an emphasis on practice strategies to support family well-being and mental health.

N643 Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders (3 cr.) - This course introduces the diagnostic processes in mental health/mental disorders using DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, ICD coding, and other mental assessment tools while considering family, community, and cultural influences.

N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (3 cr.) and N698A Practicum (1 cr.) - must be taken concurrently. N698A is the first practicum course in the FNP/DNP specialty concentration sequence.

Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive health assessments and develop enhanced capacity for clinical reasoning and laboratory test interpretation. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698A, the first clinical practicum experience in the FNP specialty that affords students the opportunity to develop+ competence and confidence in a precepted clinical experience while applying knowledge obtained in a concurrent theory course.

Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 56 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698A UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. This first practicum experience, which starts mid-way through the semester, concentrates on the “Art” of Clinical Reasoning and, therefore, most any qualified provider from a variety of healthcare settings can be appropriate.

The concentration of the practicum is for students to learn the techniques and practices of the “Focused Case Visit” and the “Complete History and Exam Visit” to acquire a sound knowledge base in diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis prior to launching into the individual patient population courses. NPs and MDs who see patients of all ages in a primary care setting are preferred.

N610 Primary Health Care of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (3 cr.) and N698E Practicum: Primary Health Care of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults (3 cr.) – must be taken concurrently.

Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to assess, maintain, and promote the health and well-being of culturally diverse children, adolescents, and young adults. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698E. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698E UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a provider who services infants through young adults either in a family practice or in a practice that specializes in the care of children and young adults. Primary care and family practice NPs and MDs or pediatric NPs or pediatricians are appropriate choices for preceptors for this semester. Students will concentrate their experiences with patients with simple acute or stable chronic health problems.

N620 Primary Health Care of Adults and Older Adults (3 cr.) and N698X Practicum: Primary Health Care of Adults (3 cr.) – must be taken concurrently.

Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to assess, maintain, and promote the health and well-being of culturally diverse adults and older adults. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698X. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698X UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a provider who adult patients either in a family practice or in a practice that specializes in the care of adults and older adults. Primary care NPs and MDs and ANPs are preferred choices for preceptors. Internal Medicine Specialists, GNPs, or Geriatricians can be appropriate choices for preceptors for this semester as approved by the faculty. Students will concentrate their experiences with patients with simple acute or stable chronic health problems.

N723 Complex Health Problems in Primary Care I (2 cr.) and N798K Practicum: Complex Health Problems in Primary Care (2 cr.) – must be taken concurrently.

Content and practicum focus is on building knowledge and skills beyond the provision of primary care for singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions of separate populations of patients to a focus on health care of patients of all ages with complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798K. Students will select an agency and a preceptor(s) in their community and engage in 112 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N798K UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a family provider or a pediatric and an adult provider in order to assure that complex patients of all ages will be seen–providers can be NPs or MDs or a combination of both. 69

N733 Complex Health Problems in Primary Care II and N798KA Practicum Complex Health Problems in Primary Care II (2 cr.) – must be taken concurrently.

This course provides students specializing in the advanced practice role of the Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills beyond that of the singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions of separate populations of patients that has been the focus of previous courses in the specialty. This course affords the opportunity to focus on health care of patients of all ages with complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798KA and completing 112 clinical practicum hours.

N706 Complex Health Problems with Multiple Chronic Conditions 2 (2 cr.) and N798S Practicum: Complex Health Problems with Multiple Chronic Conditions 2 (2 cr.) – must be taken concurrently.

This course provides students specializing in the advanced practice role of the Adult Gerontological Primary Care or FNP (DNP) Nurse Practitioner student the opportunity to build knowledge and skills beyond that of the singular simple acute or stable chronic conditions. This course affords the opportunity to focus on health care of adult and older adult patients (including frail elders) with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and complex health problems. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N798S. The N798S UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. Students must recruit a MD or NP geriatric/gerontology and adult provider in order to assure that complex patients will be seen–providers can be NPs or MDs or a combination of both for a total of 112 hours (52 hours needs to be in sub-acute rehabilitation and long-term care practice environments).

Final Spring Semester of Study in the DNP Program

N898D Final Immersion Practicum (2 cr.) -

This final practicum is an essential component of the DNP program that affords students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their area of specialty practice as they complete 112 hours of practicum experiences in one semester. This practicum provides an intensive immersion opportunity for students to further enhance and integrate their prior learning and to gain experience with designated DNP essentials and specialty competencies.

Public Health Nurse Leader (PHNL) - Role Course Sequence

In the DNP/PHNL program curriculum, there is a series of 3 theory courses with 3 concurrent practicum courses that provide content and experience in the specialty area of advanced public health nursing. After completing these specialty courses, students will engage in the Final Immersion Practicum N898A, taken during their final semester in the DNP program. All PHNL students are required to take these courses, unless they have a Master’s degree in Community or Public Health Nursing, and have received some course waivers at the time of admission.

The PHNL program includes 4 practicum courses, three of these courses are 3 credit practicum courses that require 168 hours of supervised practice, for a total of 504 hours. In the final semester of the DNP program, students will take the Final Immersion Practicum N898A for 6 credits (336 hours – of which 150 hours may be used to implement the required DNP Scholarly Project).

The three (3) theory courses in the PHNL sequence are designed to provide instruction in Advanced Public Health Nursing. In the 3 concurrent practicum courses, students implement the knowledge they acquire in the companion theory courses. These courses must be taken in sequential order, as they build upon each other. The Final Immersion Practicum course, N898A, is not taken until the last semester of the student’s coursework in the DNP program

Public Health Nurse Leader Specialty Role Courses

N640 Advanced Public Health Nursing I (3 cr.) (Fall) and N698G Practicum: Advanced Public Health Nursing I (3 cr.) Content and practicum focus is on conducting a Comprehensive Community Assessment and a targeted Needs Assessment. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698L. Students will engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. This practicum is conducted in a community that the student chooses. Students will need an outside community preceptor for this course. In order to plan ahead by mid-semester students should be identifying a preceptor and an agency that they will affiliate with for the next practicum course, N798P, offered in the spring semester.

N750 Advanced Public Health Nursing II (3 cr.) (Spring) and N798LL Practicum: Advanced Public Health Nursing II (3 cr.) Content and practicum focus is on program development and evaluation in the field of public health. Application of this knowledge occurs in the clinical practicum N798P. This practicum should be conducted in the same community as the previous practicum course, N698L. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in the community and engage in 168 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N798P UMass faculty member will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s community preceptor.

N760 Advanced Public Health Nursing III Contemporary Issues in Public Health Practice (3 cr.) and N798M Practicum: Contemporary Issues in Public Health Practice (3 cr.) Content and practicum focus is on current issues in public health nursing practice. Students will select an agency and a preceptor in the community and engage in 168 hours of selected practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N798M UMass faculty member will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s community preceptor.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) - Role Courses

Course Descriptions:

N615 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr.) - This course examines the conceptual basis and specific knowledge of pathophysiology and disease recognition for children and adults as observed in the primary care setting.

N619 Advanced Pharmacology (3 cr.) - This course reviews in-depth the principles of pharmacology for classes of drugs commonly used in various health care practices. The most pertinent drug classes for nursing practice are included in this course.

N703 Pharmacotherapy Management (3 cr.) - Integration of principles of pharmacology and

therapeutic patient care management to construct, implement and evaluate optimal pharmacotherapeutic regimens for patients in various healthcare settings. This course includes an assignment with a local pharmacist.

N670 Family Systems and Interventions (3 cr.) - Selected concepts, theories and research related to family dynamics and family coping, with an emphasis on practice strategies to support family well-being and mental health.

N614 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning (3 cr.) and N698A Practicum (1 cr.) - must be taken concurrently. N698A is the first practicum course in the PMHNP/DNP specialty concentration sequence.

Content and practicum focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills needed to perform comprehensive health assessments and develop enhanced capacity for clinical reasoning and laboratory test interpretation. Application of this knowledge occurs in the concurrent clinical practicum N698A, the first clinical practicum experience in the FNP specialty that affords students the opportunity to develop competence and confidence in a precepted clinical experience while applying knowledge obtained in a concurrent theory course.

Students will select an agency and a preceptor in their community and engage in 56 hours of practicum experiences to meet course objectives. The N698A UMass faculty will supervise this practicum course in conjunction with the student’s approved preceptor. This first practicum experience, which starts mid-way through the semester, concentrates on the “Art” of Clinical Reasoning and, therefore, most any qualified provider from a variety of healthcare settings can be appropriate. The concentration of the practicum is for students to learn the techniques and practices of the “Focused Case Visit” and the “Complete History and Exam Visit” to acquire a sound knowledge base in diagnostic reasoning and differential diagnosis prior to launching into the individual patient population courses. NPs and MDs who see patients of all ages in a primary care setting are preferred.

Specialty courses include:

N643 Assessment and Diagnosis of Psychiatric and Mental Health Disorders - This course introduces the diagnostic processes in mental health/mental disorders using DSM 5 diagnostic criteria, ICD coding, and other mental assessment tools while considering family, community, and cultural influences.

N580 Integrative Therapies in Health Care - This course will examine integrative health therapies including the cultural contexts of health and health care, telehealth, dynamics of systems and individual change, and evidence-based analysis of therapeutic effectiveness.

N697NP Neuropsychopharmacology (3 cr.) - This course examines the pharmacological treatment of psychiatric mental health disorders and is structured to develop the student with a logical approach and treatment strategy to use when prescribing.

N612 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents (3 cr.) - Content in the psychopathology, assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders affecting children and adolescents are presented.

N698CA Practicum Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Children and Adolescents (3 cr.) - This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based health care agency providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health nursing care to children, adolescents and their families, 168 clinical practicum hours.

N622 Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults (3 cr.) - This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community- based health care agency/facility providing psychiatric mental health care to children, adolescents and their families.

N698AD Practicum Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with Adults and Older Adults (3 cr.) - This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum in a community- based health agency or facility providing advanced practice psychiatric mental health care to adults and older adults, 168 clinical practicum hours.

N721 Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families (2 cr.) - This course continues preparing students in developing advanced skills to deliver individual, group and family psychosocial therapeutics using evidence based psychosocial treatment models across the lifespan.

N798GF Practicum Advanced Psychotherapy Modalities with Individuals, Groups and Families (2 cr.) - This course consists of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a community-based inpatient or outpatient mental health care agency providing psychotherapeutic mental health care to individuals, groups and families, 112 clinical practicum hours.

N722 Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems (3 cr.) - A refinement of advanced knowledge and skills required to deliver psychiatric mental health care to culturally diverse individuals of all ages with complex mental health and psychiatric issues.

N798X Practicum Psychiatric Mental Health- Complex Health Problems (3 cr.) - This course will consist of a supervised clinical practicum experience in a health care agency/facility providing psychiatric mental health care to individuals, 112 clinical practicum hours.

N898D Final Direct Care residency (2 cr.) - This final practicum is an essential component of the DNP program that affords students the opportunity to immerse themselves in their area of specialty practice as they complete 112 hours of practicum experiences in one semester. This practicum provides an intensive immersion opportunity for students to further enhance and integrate their prior learning and to gain experience with designated DNP essentials and specialty competencies.

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Ph.D. in Nursing Program

Information, announcements and other resources relevant to the PhD Program are maintained on the Nursing PhD Program intranet website.

Learn more about the Ph.D. in Nursing Program including:

• PhD Curriculum, Vision and Mission
• Mentored Research Residency
• Authorship
• Comprehensive Exam Policy and Application
• Doctoral Dissertation Process and Steps

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